Shots were fired at Johannesburg’s emergency services and police who had rushed to the rescue of three people reportedly swept away by flood waters in Kya Sands on Thursday.
”We arrived at where they were supposed to be washed away and suddenly shots were fired towards the river,” emergency services spokesperson Malcolm Midgley said. ”We were forced to evacuate the firefighters [who also carry out the rescues]. We don’t know where the shooting was coming from.”
Police spokesperson Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht said that full details are not available yet, but it was reported that five armed men shot at the rescuers and police and then ran into the nearby informal settlement.
They have not yet been found. Nobody was injured when the shots were fired.
The area was later searched and rescuers concluded that nobody had been swept away by flood waters.
The city’s emergency services are already stretched as they prepare for possible rain-related disasters throughout the city, with a rescue base of ropes and boats already set up at the Marlboro bridge in Alexandra, a common danger spot during heavy rains.
”Please move away from the water line and don’t cross low-lying bridges,” Midgley urged pedestrians and motorists.
Metro police in Johannesburg and on the East Rand repeated earlier warnings for caution on the wet roads, with three people injured when two bakkies collided on Main Reef Road in Boksburg.
Ekurhuleni metro police’s George Mokheseng said two occupants of a Mazda bakkie and one of a Ford bakkie were rushed to the Sunshine hospital.
Main Reef Road opposite Knights hospital in Germiston was closed and the R550 near Magagula High School in Katlehong had also been closed.
One woman was killed and 16 taxi passengers seriously injured in a head-on crash on Johannesburg’s Golden Highway, and a Sunninghill motorist had to be rescued when her car was swept away at a bridge on the Witkoppen Road.
First Road Emergency tow-truck driver Jean Swiegers managed to pull the woman to safety and retrieve her car, his colleague, only identified as Deon, said while Swiegers rested from his overnight shift.
”It has been hectic this morning,” said Deon.
Witkoppen Road was blocked between Rivonia and Cambridge roads, and the roads between John and 18th street in Alexandra were also closed.
Rivonia and Leeuwkop roads, and London and Roosevelt roads, were recommended as alternatives.
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry said that at this stage there is no emergency situation near Standerton’s Grootdraai Dam, which has now dropped to being 109% full after a release of water.
”The situation is fairly under control,” said Amelius Muller, chief director for regions.
The Vaal Dam has risen to 45% full and is expected to rise to 55%, which, combined with back-up from supplies at the Sterkfontein Dam, has eased drought fears.
”We are very thankful for it,” said Muller, cautioning, though, that water restrictions might have to remain in the Free State, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
WeatherSA forecaster Derrick Makhubele said that the rains are due to a tropical system that has moved down Southern Africa. More thundershowers are expected in Johannesburg on Thursday after a short clearing-up period. Light rain will also fall over KwaZulu-Natal due to a cold front.
Chances of rain will lessen over the next few days with some bright patches already appearing in the western half of the Eastern Cape. — Sapa